Emile Turner
– Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Self taught on the trumpet from the age of 25, Emile has studied
with such
jazz greats as clarinettist Alvin Batiste, pianist Barry Harris
and cellist
David Baker. He performed with the Southern University Jazz Ensemble
from 1998 through 2000 and played in Paris, France for the 1998
World
Cup celebrations as an "ambassador" of Louisiana music.
Emile has played
with many well-known Louisiana jazz artists, such as drummers
Jason
Marsalis and Mark Gulley and bassist Roland Guerin.
Napoleon Martin
– Tenor Saxophone, Flute
A graduate of the Instrumental Music Department of Southern
University, Nap’s
career as a professional musician has spanned a variety of musical
styles from
traditional Dixieland and blues to contemporary jazz. Nap performed
for many
years with the Jazztronauts under the leadership of clarinettist
Alvin Batiste and
traveled with the band to the Kennedy Center in Washington DC
for the national
jazz finals. The band was also a featured act for many years
at the New Orleans
Jazz and Heritage Festival, joined on one occasion by famous
trumpeter Dizzy
Gillespie.
Will Bertolette
-- Piano and Keyboards, Vocals
A Louisiana resident since 1980, Will established himself
as a pianist and
organized some of Baton Rouge's most popular jazz goups. He played
for a year
and a half with the LSU Jazz Ensemble under the direction of
bassist Bill Grimes,
and performed with guest stars clarinettist Alvin Batiste, trombonist
Carl Fontana,
trumpeter Vince DiMartino, and saxophonist Tony Dagradi. He also
appeared at the
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival during the mid-90s with
jazz steel pan
player, Greg Boyd -- this in addition to keeping a regular gig
at Margaritaville in
the New Orleans French quarter.
"Rusty"
Gilder – Acoustic Bass
Recognized in the New Orleans jazz world as a first-class
musician, Rusty has
played with both local and nationally-known talents. Rusty played
shows along
the East Coast during the early 70s and moved to New York City
where he
accompanied pianists Mose Allison and Marion McPartland, saxophonist
Gerry
Mulligan and composer/pianist Phillip Glass. In 1974 he performed
with the
late, great Duke Ellington in one of his last concerts and then
moved to Atlanta,
Georgia, where a steady gig at the Fairmont Hotel kept him working
with such
featured celebrities as Pearl Baily, Phyllis Diller and Carol
Channing. Back in
New Orleans he played with trumpeter Clark Terry, saxophonists
Zoot Sims and
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis among many others.
Richard Hunter
– Drums
Born and raised in New Orleans, Richard graduated as a music
major from
Southern University in 1979 and has since played with such jazz
luminaries as
clarinettist Alvin Batiste, pianists Ellis Marsalis and Henry
Butler, saxophonists
Earl Turbington, Willie Metcalf, Kirk Ford and many others. He
has also
consistently appeared on stage at the New Orleans Heritage and
Jazz festival and
other Louisiana festivals, not to mention different musical entertainment
venues
in New Orleans and around the world.